Wire loom



' July 2811925.

J. 5. BARNES WIRE LOOM Filed Jan. 12. 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 28, 1925.

- J. s. BARNES WIRE LOOM 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 28, 1925. 1-,547Q'i19 J. S. BARNES WIRE LOOM Filed Jan. 12. 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 28, 1925. [1,547 79' ,J.s. BARNES WIRE LOOM Filed Jan. 12. 1923 July 28; 1925.

WIRE LOOM Filed Jan; 12. 1923 b Sheets-Sheet 5 Jul 28. 1925.-

J. S. BARNES WIRE 1 00M Filed Jan 12, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet a July 28, 1925. 1,547,779

, I J. 5. BARNES WIRE. LOOM 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 12, Y 1923 July 28, 1925.

v I J.S.BARNES WIRE LOOM Filed Jan, 12, 1923 8 SheetsSheet B Patented July 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES;

PATENT ounce;

was s. stems, or AmvARBon, MICHIGAN, ASSIG-NOR T WIRE rnonoc'rs cos- POR'ATION, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

WIRE L o'oM.

Application filed January 1 2', 1923. Serial No. 612381.

To all whom it may concern,- a Be it known that I, Jonas. BARN S, citizen of the United States, residing at Ann Arbor, county of Washtenaw, State ofll fichigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Wire Looms and declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description of the same, such aswill enablejothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, refer en'ce'being had to the accompanying draw: ings which form a part of this specification My invention relates toan improvement 1 in wire looms shown intheaccompanying drawings and more, particularly described in' the following specification and claims. The primary object of, this inventionis'1t0 provide asimple and effective. loom for the manufacture of wire fence whereby all the lateral wires are brought under thefs'anie relative tension so that the picketsinserted between their twisted strands maybe straight, vertical and. regularvv in appearance, that the lateral wires may. be .under uniformtension when attached to the posts. .In Patent No. 798,154 issued to me August. 24th, 1905, for; fence looms is shown. a wire fabric delivery mechanism consisting of a plurality of .notched vwheels',rnou'njted upon asingle.shaft,corresp'onding-.in numher to the.respective lateral wires of the finished fence fabric. The notches in these several :wheels receive the respective pickets of the-fence. fabric and through the opera tion ofsuitable driving mechanism,including a ratchet gear-wheel andia coeope ratin'g pair of engaging dogs,draws the: finisher fabric forward as rapidly as it leaves the twistingineinbers, for :delivery to thewind:

ing drum. It has been found. in practice however that the use of a single row of notched wheels,driven by aratchet gearwheelin turn actuated by alternatingly engaging dogs,fails to provide a uniform tension of the respective line or lateral wi es;there being considerable backlash due to the alternate engaging and disengaging of the respective dogs and to the fact that an insufficient llulll'bel' of the pickets are simultaneously engaged by j the notched wheels to insure a positive; forward movement of the several lateral wires under uniform tension. It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to overcome these objections by providing a plural number of; feedgdrunisfitted"with a pfljurality of notched bars adapted to receive all thelatere al wires ofthe fence andto engage thesev era'l pickets,eacl 1 of the bars being provided with a sufiicient numberiof notches to adapt tgfor any special spacing of the'llateral or line wires of the fencedesired the srr aeme .;be g s th t a r ativ ly greater number of the picketsjof acompleted en e ay b engage han was p ssible with my former devicey-the feed drumsbeing driven by a worm gear toinsure' a posi to avoid :any backlash of the latter;

A further objectjofthe invention consists each .pair2of strands forming the, line or 'tive forward movement of the drums and lateral-wires of the fence as they pass from V the wire fspoolsto the testing gears,

further-object of ,the. inventionis to provide means for automatically forcing the end of thelreturn bendof the picketsinto the crotchfformed by twistingtogether each pair of the strands forming the line wires of.

the fence.

A further objectof the inventioirconsists in the clutch mechanism; and co-operating means employed to throw the' machine into and out-of operative condition. .A further object ofthe. invention consists in means for automaticallydecreasing the speed of the winding. drum in .direct ratio to the increasing diameter ofthe wire fabric bundled thereon with correspondingly increasing drivingpower.

"Withthe foregoing androther objects in view which. will; appear as the description proceeds the invention further resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of constructioi'i hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that Figure l is an end elevation of the loom.

with the wire spool rack removed,-looking toward the end of the twisting gears.

I Figure 5 ma perspective view of a detail showing the means employed to form aloop at the ends of the pickets while weaving the latter into a fence.

Figure 6 is an elevation partly in section of the detailindicated in Figure 5 showing a movable platen provided with a plurality of downwardly extending pins of different lengths adapted to successively enter apertures in a stationary table below the platen, whereby the ends of the picket are held between the pins and are gradually given an arc-shaped form, -the ends of the pickets being'engaged between the twisted strands of the linewires as the fence is constructed.

Figure 7 is a similar view taken on or about line VHVH of Figure 6 showing a fragment of the fence resting upon the supporting table with the ends of two pickets as they would appear before being given an arc-shaped formation by the downward hrust of the depending pins carried by the movable platen.

Figure 8 is'a similar view showing the pins intersected by line VIHVHI of Figure 6 entering the apertures in the supporting table, whereby the first step is taken to give the ends of the pickets an arc-shaped formation. t

Figure 9 is a similar view showing the pins intersected bythe line IXIX in Figure 6 as they would appear upon entering the sockets in the supporting table showing the next successive step in forming the arcshaped ends of the picket.

Figure 10 is a similar view showing the pins intersected by the line XX in Figure 6 entering the sockets in the supporting able and showing the next successive step in forming the arc-shaped ends of the picket.

Figure 11 is a similar view showing the pins intersected by the line XI-XI in Figure 6 as they would appear upon entering the sockets in the stationary table showing the next step taken in forming the arc shaped ends of the picket.

Figure 12 is a similar view showing the pins intersected by the line XII-XII in Figure 6 as they wouldappear upon entering the sockets in the stationary table and indicating the next successive step in forming the arc-shaped ends of the picket.

'Figure 13 is a similar view taken on or about line XIII-XIII of Figure 6 showing the pins as they would appear upon entering the sockets in the table below, be ing the next step taken in forming the arcshaped end of the picket Figure 14? is -a vertical sectional view through the device shown in Figure 5 taken on or about linel-lt of Figure 7.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary detail of the product of the wire loom.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a detail of construction embodying a device adapted to maintain the wire under tension as it is delivered from the wire spools to the twisting gears. V

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a detail of construction embodying one of the devices employed to give the ends of the pickets an arc-shaped formation, showing also the means for beating the arc-shaped end of the picket into the crotch formed by the twisted strands of the lateral wires and also a fragmentary detail of one ofthe} twisting members whereby the lateral wires are twisted together to engage and support the pickets. 7

Figure 18 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through one of the lateral wire twisting members, adj ust-ablyi mounted upon a pair of transverse rails secured to the frame of the loom. 1

Figure 19 is a fragmentary end elevation of a detail of construction embodying the clutch mechanism controlling the operation of the tension drums.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary elevation with the parts in section of the detail shown in'Figure 19 taken at right-angles 'to the latter. 7' i Figure 21 is a fragmentary View of the detail shown in Figures 19 and 20.

Referring now to the letters of reference placed upon the drawings:

Mounted upon the inclined rails A, secured to the frame B of the machine are a plurality of wire spools C, from which strand wires --1 and 2 are led in pairs through a plurality of spring tension devices D-a detail description of which will fo1lowto a plurality of wire twisting members E,which willalso be hereafter described in detail,-adapted to twist the strands of wire together to form lateral cables between and around the pickets L of the fence.

A pulley F mounted upon a shaft F is supported in suitable hangers F bolted to the frame of the machine. The pulley'F is provided with a clutch mechanism F adapted to engage the co-a'cting members G of the clutch carried by a driving pinion G keyed to the shaft F F is a spring to raring" maintain the pulley in driving relation with the pinion H is a gear mounted upon a shaft H 'su'pported in. suitable bearings attached to the frame of the machinesee Figure 1. jecting from the' face of'the gear arewedgeshaped cams H, H", co-operating with the wedge-shaped portion 1, of the clutch re-' leasing member I, sleeved upon a hub of the driving pulley to periodically release the driving connection betweenthe pulley and driving pinionG.

A link bar J pivotally connected to the gear H and to a lug K extending downwardly from the rack barK' serves to reciprocate the rack bar which thereby actuates the wire twisting elements E, shown in detail in Figures 17 and 18 ofthe drawings.

The wire twisting device E is adjustably mounted uponapair of transverse bars 3, 3, bolted to the main frame of the l'ooinby a bolt 4: extending through a plate 5 beneath the bars into the pedestal 6 of the twisting device. The pedestal is slotted for the passage of the rack bar' K and journaled in the pedestal above the rackbar is a rocking element 7, having oppositely disposed longitudinal peripheral grooves 8 for the passage of the respective strands 1 and 2 of the lateral cables. The rocking element 7 is also provided with a transverse hole and open slot, asindicated at 9, to admit the entry and delivery of the pickets L between" the strands of the cablef-see Figure 17 of the drawings. Pinned to the rocking element 7 is apinionM inmeshwvith" the rack bar K and actuatedby' the alternate rn'ove'inentof the latter, thereby rocking the eleinent 7 to twist the strands of wire together in alternate directions between the respective pickets as the fence fabric is thus formed.

7 Upon the strands of wire being twisted together corresponding with the desired spacing of the pickets and determined the travel of the rack bar K in one direct1on-' the cam member H of the gear H will be in position to act upon the co -operating wedge shaped portion P of the clutch releasing member I, thereby disengaging the driving pinion G from operative connection with thedriving pulley, whereby the operation of the wire twisting elements E is. suspended to admit the manual insertion of a picket L between the strands 1 and 2 of the respective cables.

Bolted: to the frame of the loom is trough L for supporting a plurality of pickets prior to guiding them between line wires or lateral cables of the fenee. Adjacent to the bodyof the trough and forming a pa 'rtthereof is a narrow V shaped channel L to receive and guide a single picket between the feed rolls U and L journaled in the upstanding bracket L bolted to the frame of the machine. L is movable platform. necting' the bell-crank lever Q with abellmanually operated bell-crank lever pivoted to a bracket L secured to the picket trough:- If, adapted to engage the end of a picket to deliver the latter between the feed rolls L and L Journaled' in overhanging brackets 8 bolted to'the frame of the loom is a transverse shaft .9 to whichare secured a 'plu rality of swinging arms 10, longitudina1ly adjustable upon the shaft. Pivoted to the end of the'ni'ovablearms 10 is a swinging jaw l1havi1'ig a rocking arm to whichis pivoted a link bar 12 fitted with a hub 13' loosely sleeved upon a transverse shaft 14 supported in the overhanging brackets 8, 8,;a djacent to the shaft 9 Located on each side of'the loo-n1 are picket bending devices N, N, linked together that they may operate simultaneously, adapted when operated to bend each end of the pickets that the finishedffabric may present arched interlacing loops at each side thereofas shown in Figure 15. Each of these picket bending devices comprise a platform N havingdownwardly projecting lugs through which extend shafts N carried bysupporting brackets N? attached to the frame of the machine'the platform having a limited longitudinal slidable movement upon the shafts. N is a vertically movable superimposed platform slidable upon guides N NP, vvprojecting upwardly from the platforms N N is a fitting secured to the guides N, fromwhich extends a link bar N connected witha'similar fite I ting" carried by the picket bendin device on the opposite sideof the machihe. Se-

cured to and projecting de'wnwardly from the'movable platform N are a-plurality of pins N of relatively different lengthv having wedge or beveled'shaped ends NF adapted to bear against the ends of the pickets to gradually bend the latter into an archshaped form ;the pins projecting'through apertures in the platform N beneath. Spaced from and parallel with the beveled end pins N are a plurality of pins P pro jecting downwardly from the movable'pl'atform which also when actuated extend into it plurality of apertures in the platform beow. i

Q, is a manually operated bell-crank lever pivoted to a lateral extension of the fitting N and is connected by a link Q? with the Q is a link-bar concrank lever Q pivoted to the movable platform of the picket bending device on the opposite side of the loom. The bell-crank lever however in the lattercase' is relatively short due to the fact that both devices are simultaneously operated by the manually operated bell-crank'lever Q;-see'Figure i. Q is a spring connected with and link bar. Q} to return the parts to their normal position when released from manual control.

R is a bracket carried by the shafts 9 and] 14, to which is pivoted a bell-crank lever R1, connected by a link R with one of the swingingarms 10 secured to the shaft 9. 3 is a link connecting the other arm of the bell-crank lever B with a fitting 13 secured in a slotted way g in the link bar Q whereby the throw of the swinging arm 10 may be adjustedso that upon the manual operation of the lever Q the respective swinging arms 10 secured to the 'shaft 9 may force the picket out of the slotted end of the twisting device lateral cable. Upon the release of the manually operated lever Q the spring Q .Wlll return the swinging arms 10 back to their normal position in alinement with the feed rolls M, M -and transverse hole and slot 9, in the rocking elements of the twisting device. VVhen thus aligned the jaws at the lower end of the swinging arms are closed to guide the pickets upon leaving the feed rolls through the transverse holes 9 in the respective twisting devicessee Figure 17. S is a pinion in mesh withthe gear H mounted upon a shaft S journaled in bearings S S bolted to the frame of the loom. S is a worm gear on the shaft S in mesh with a worm gear S mounted upon a transverse shaft S journaled in the frame of the machine. S is a spurgear on the shaft S in'niesh with the like spur gear T on the shaftv T journaled in brackets secured to the frame of the machine;

U is a drum on the shaft SF providedwith a plurality of ribs U notched as at U to receive the lateral wires or cables of the fence fabric. U is a similar drum carried by the shaft T also fitted with notched ribs to receive the lateral wires of the fence fabric.

Mounted on the end of the shaft T of the drum U is a bevel-gear V in mesh with v a like bevel-gear V keyed toa partially screw-threaded shaft V supported at one end in a fitting V and at its opposite end in a fitting V", carried by a shaft W on which is mounted a wind-up drum W Projecting from the fittings V and V are arms V for supporting a guide rod V. Mounted upon the guide rod V and slidable thereon is a member X, having a divided hinged arm X adapted to embrace the threaded portion of the shaft V which it is tapped to receive. X is a wing-nut to secure the divided hinged arm together that it may engage and travel alongthe threaded the lever Q,-

E, into the crotch formed by the twisted strands 1 and 2 of the 1 portion of the shaft V when the latter is rotated by the operation of the beveled gears V and V 7 Y denotes a friction disc keyed to and longitudinally slidable'upon the unthreaded portion of the shaft V ;the forked arm of the member X engaging a flanged hub integral with the friction disc; Z is a friction disc mounted upon the shaft W of the wind-up drum driven by the friction disc Y on the shaft V The wire fence fabric having been ens gaged by the notched ribs carried by the feed drums U and U the fabric is drawn from the twisting mechanism and delivered to the wind-up drum -W upon which it is wound through the operation of the friction disc;-it being apparent that as the diameter of the roll of finished fabric increases upon the wind-up drum the driving speed of the latter will be decreased with a corresponding increasing power due to the disc Y being automatically shifted toward the periphery of the friction disc E, as a result of the member X traveling upon the threaded shaft V The distance traveled by the member X upon the theaded shaft is predetermined and corresponds to the predetermined diameter,-or the length of the finished wire fabric" upon the winding drum. Upon the roll being completed itis removed and the end of the next section of wire fabric is engaged to the roll or winding drum ;-the wing-nut X is then ad justed to release the divided hinged arm that the member X may be shifted along the screw threaded shaft in order that the friction disc Y may be returned to its initial position upon the friction driven disc Z. V

Referrin' a ain to the s rin tension device D which receives the wire strands 1 and-2,-formingthe lateral cables of the fence-from the spools C as theyare led to the twisting members E A rocking arm D is pivoted in a U-shaped frame D secured.

to the frame of the loom ;mounted in the rocking arm D is a roller D? provided with peripheral grooves (Z, d, to receive the wire strands. (lo-operating with the roller D is a similar roller D journaled in the U shaped frame, ofthe rocking arm is a bolt D fitted with a wing-nut D ,-to which is connected a spring D secured to the frame of the loom. By adjusting the wing-nut the spring may be regulated thereby increasing the tension of the device upon thestrands of wire forming the lateral cables, thus overcoming any slack inthe wire that might otherwise obtain. I

and suspended from the end Having now indicated the several parts by reference characters the construction and operation of the loom will be readily understood.

It will first be assumed that spools of wire for formingthe twisted lateral cables of the fence1fabric. have been installed upon the inclined ;rails Aof the loom and that the Wires have been led in pairs through the respective tension devices D,.thr0llgh the-twisting member E,- the.feed dru1ns', to'the wind-up drum to which they are secured.

;Power having been appliedto the driving pulley F the gear His actuatedby the driving pinion G, the link-connection J between the gear .H and rack bar K thereby operates the latter rotating-the twisting members E a predeterminednumber of times governed by the travel of therack barin one direction. i i

i The racklbar having reached the end of its movement, one of the cams 'H onfthe gear H will be in position to operate the clutch releasing member I thereby suspending movement of the rack'barin the opposite direction until the clutch F? and i are again engaged.

A picket is nowinserted in thetrough L and is manually forced between the feed rolls L and L by the bell-crank lever L The 'feed rolls being independently driven members E and between the strands of the several lateral wires forming the fence fabric.

The ends of the picket-being now ,atrest upon the platform N 'N fof the picket bending devices N,-see Figures 5 and :7, the lever Q is operated and-through its link ico nnections simultaneously actuates the re spective vertically movable superimposed platforms N, N carrying the groups of pins Pand N The pins N being of relatively different lengthsand wedge shaped at their lowerends N they successively bear against the picket as they are forced down causing the picket to assume the are formed by the several guide pins P, as clearly indicated in the successive steps :taken in forming the -pickets,see Figures 7 to 13.

The manual operationof the lever Q also rocks the-respective arms 10 thereby forcing the picket inserted through the twisting members E out of their slotted jaws and against the free ends of the preceding picket when the latter is in the position sliown' in Figure 13. This action drives the partially completed arced end of the pickets, -together with the last added -picket,i nto the crotch formed by the strandsil and 2 .of the respective lateral cables, thereby completing the formation .of the arced endsnof the picket previously inserted.

Upon swinging the rocking arms 10 to force the picket ont of thetiyisting members into the crotch formedby the strands of the able platform N causes the clutch releasing member [Ito rock sufliciently to release the clutch member Cr that it may again engage the clutch "F through the action of the spring Flythereby forcing the driving pulley into operative driving relation with the gear H, the movement of the rackgbar being in a reverse direction and thus reversing the rotation of the twisting elements, that the wire strands-may be twisted in an opposite direction between alternating pickets.

The arc-shaped ends of .the pickets are confined between the pins 1? and N of the twisting devices when the latter is depressed by theoperation of the lever whilet-wisb ing the strandsof the lateral cables together. The twisting devices are drawn along with the fence fabrica distance equivalent to the space between picket-s 'governed by the travel of-the rack bar K in one direction. Upon the movement ofthe rackbar being suspended by the operation of the clutch releasing member Ias previously ex- ,plained the lever Qis then released from manual control whereupon the springQ,

acting upon the lever Q, raises the vertically movable platen .N to its initial position,

Upon the pins of the twisting device being raised from engagement with the arcshaped ends of the picket, the spring 1N on the shaft N becomes operative to shift the picket bending devices N, N, to itsfinit ia'l position,the link I being free to slide upon the pin of the .clevis 'I ,to receive the picket to be next inserted whereupon theoperation just described is repeated.

The strands forming the lateral cables as previouslystated are twisted in opposite di rections between alternate pickets,.the distance between the pickets being governed by the travel of the rackbar in one direction and thus actuates the several twisting members in opposite directions between alternate pickets.

As the wire fabric is formed the pickets will be engaged by the projecting ribs U of the drums U and U drivenby the wormslack.

bundling drum is actuated by the friction disc 'Z driven by the friction disc 'Yimounted and longitudinally slidable .upon

the screw threaded, shaft V ,1which is in turn actuated by the-bevel gears Y and The friction disc Y is automatically shifted toward the periphery of the disc Z,-as the fabric is wound upon the bundling drum,- by the yoke X, one arm of which engages a flange on the hub of the friction disc Y,- the other arm of the yoke engaging a threaded portion of the shaft V It will now be obvious that upon the shaft V being rotated by the bevel gear V and V the yoke X will be forced to travel along the screw threaded shaft carrying with it the frictional driving disc Y until the latter reaches the peripheral margin "of the driving disc Z-as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. The travel of the disc Y toward the periphery of the driven disc Z is timed so that upon reaching the marginal edge of the latter a roll of wire fabric of standard length will be wound upon the bundling drum from which it may then be removed. The frictional driving disc Y is then returned to its initial position-as indicated in Figure 3-by releasing the wingnut X so that the divided arm X of the yoke X may be opened sufficiently to permit the latter to slide back over the threaded portion of the shaft V to its initial position. The wing-nut X is then again adjusted so that the tapped portion of the yoke arm will engage the threaded portion of the shaft.

The wire strands 1 and 2 as they leave the wire spools to be delivered to the twisting members are held under suitable tension by the tension devices D-the construction and operation of which has been previously clescribed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: Y I V i -1.' In a wire fence machine, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands together to form the lateral cables of a fence, means for feeding wire pickets between the strands of the lateral cables, means for looping the ends of the pickets including spaced perforated platforms, a vertically movable platen above each plat form provided each with a plurality of downwardly directed pins of different length adapted-to enter the perforations of the respective platforms, each platform having a plurality of upwardly directed guide pins, and means for actuating the platens to cause the pins thereof to engage and loop the ends of the pickets.

2. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands together to form the lateral cables of a fence, means for feeding wire pickets betweenthe strands of the lateral cables,

,means for looping the ends of the pickets including spaced perforated platforms, a vertically movable platen above each platform provided each with a plurality of downwardly directed pins of different length adapted to enter the perforations of the respective platforms, each platform having a plurality of upwardly directed guide pins, means for actuating the platens to cause the pins thereof to engage and loop the ends of the pickets, and means for withdrawing the picket looping means from the looped ends of the pickets.

3. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands together to form the lateral cables of a fence, means for feeding wire pickets between the lateral cables, means for looping the ends of the pickets including spaced, movable, perforated platforms, a vertically movable platen above each platform provided each with a plurality of downwardly directed pins of different length adapted to enter the perforations of the respective platforms, each movable plat- I form having a plurality of upwardly di rected guide pins and means for actuating the platens to cause the pins thereof to enter the perforations ofthe respective platforms and to engage and loop the ends of the pickets.

4. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands together to form the lateral cables of a fence, means for feeding wire pickets between the lateral cables, means for looping the ends of the pickets including spaced, movable, perforated platforms, a vertically movable platen above each platform. provided each with a plurality of downwardly directed pins of different length adapted to enter the perforations of the respective platforms, each movable platform having a plurality of upwardly directed guide pins, means for actuating the platens to cause the pins thereof to enter the perforations of the respective platforms to engage and loop the ends of the pickets, and means for separating the platens from the respective platforms and the ends of the pickets to permit passage of the fence material a step through the machine.

5. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands together to form the lateral cables of a fence, means for feeding the wire pickets between the strands of the lateral cables, means for forcing each picket into the crotches formed by the strands of the lat eral wires, means for automatically looping an end of each picket including a perforated platform, a vertically movable platen above said platform and provided with a plurality of downwardly directed pins of different length adapted to enter the perforations of said platform, the platform having a plurality of upwardly directed guide pins, means for actuating the platen to cause the pins thereof to enter the perforations of the platform and in their passage to said perforations engage the ends of the pickets and means for Withdrawing the platen from cooperative relation with the platform and with the fence material.

6. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of spools to receive strands of wire, a reciprocating rack-bar, a plurality of wiretwisting device-s simultaneously actuated the rack-bar for forming the lateral cables 'of the fence fabric, means for automatically arresting the movement of said twisting means at the end of each stroke of the rack-bar, said means including a clutch mechanism, means for inserting a picket between the strands of wire following the suspended rotation of said twisting means, means includa plurality of rocking members adapted to force the inserted picket into the crotch formedby the strands ofthe respective lateral cables, means for actuating the clutch releasing mechanism, whereby the twisting means may beagain actuated, means includ ing a plurality of feed drums provided with projecting lugs adapted to engage the respective pickets of thegfinished fabric as the latter leaves the twisting means, means including a worm gear mechanism for actuating said feed drums and means for bundling the wire fabric upon leaving the feed drums.

7. In a wire fence machine, .aframe, a splurality of rotatable elements provided-with longitudinal passages for the wire strands forming the lateral'cables ofthe fence, and provided with transverse hole and slot at one end for the passage of the pickets, a pin ion keyed to each of the rotatable elements, a rack-bar in mesh with sai'd pinions, means for reciprocating the racleb-ar, a rock shaft mounted in the main frame abovesaid pinions, ,a plurality of arms depending from said rock-shaft and keyed there-toflto rock therewith, a swinging aw pivoted to the free end of each of'the rocking arms, a shaft j oui'nalled in the frame adjacent to the rock shaft, a link pivoted to each of the swinging jaws and to said second mentioned shaft wherebythe swinging jaws may be automaticallyclosed to guide the vpicket and afterwards opened to release the picket simulr taneously with the operation of the rock shaft, and means for actuating the rock sh ft.

8. in a wire fence machine, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands together to formthe lateral cables of a fence, means for feeding the wire pickets between the-strands of the lateral cables, means for automatically looping the ends of the pickets including spaced perforated platforms,a vertically movable platen above each platform provi cled each with a plurality of downwardly directed pins of relatively different length bevelled at their lower ends and arranged in'the arc of a circle adapted to enter the perforations in the platform below, each platform having a plurality of upwardly directed guide pins,'and means for actuating the platens to cause the pins thereof to enter the perforations of. the respective platforms and in their passage to said perforations engage the ends ofthe pickets to thereby loop the ends of the pickets.

9. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands together to form the lateral cables of a fence, means for feeding the wire pickets between the strands of the lateral cables, means for automatically looping the endof the picke-tincluding aperforated platform having a limited longitudinal movement in line with the travel of the fence fabric, a

vertically movable platen provided with a plurality of downwardly directed pins of relatively different length beveled at their lower ends and arranged in the arc of a circle, adapted toenter the perforations in the platform below, said movable platen being also provided with a plurality of guide pins spaced from the first named pins whereby the end of the picket may (enter between the respective rows of pins, means for actuating said movable platen whereby the beveled ends of the pins of relatively diiferent length may successively act upon the end of t-he' wire picket to force it to conform .to the arc of a circle described bythe guide pins, means for. forcing the picket when delivered front the twisting means into the crotch formed by the strands of the lateral wires, means for withdrawing the picket looping means from the looped end of the picket,

means for returning the said picket loo-ping means to its initial position to receive the next picket and means for reversing the moi ement of the twisting means whereby the strands of wire may be twisted in oppot site directions between alternate pickets 10. In a wire fence machine, including 'means for twistinga plurality of pairs of wire strands together between adjacent pickets to form the lateral cables of a fence, means for looping the ends of the pickets to form a finished edge for the wire fabric, said means being adapted to travel with the wire fabric a distance substantially corresponding with the predetermined distance between pickets, said looping means includ ing a platform adapted to support the end of the picket, a vertically movable platen fitted with a plurality of pins of relatively different length having beveled ends to successively engage and bear against the picket, whereby the latter may be gradually bent to the arc of a circle, means for actuating said movable platen, means for automatically returning the movable platen to its initial position, whereby the picket'is released from said looping means, and means for returning the looping means to its initial position whereby it may receive and act upon the next inserted picket.

11. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands together to form the lateral cables of a fence, means for feeding the wire pickets between the strands of the lateral cables, means for automatically looping the end of the picket including a perforated platform having limited movement, a vertically movable platen provided with a plurality of downwardly directed pins of relatively different length, arranged in the arc of a circle adapted to enter the perforations in the plat form below, said movable platform being provided with a plurality of upwardly directed guide pin-s, means for actuating said movable platen whereby the ends of the pins of relatively different length successively act upon the end of the wire picket to force it to conform to the arc of a circle, and means for withdrawing the platen from cooperating relation with the platform.

12. In a wire fence machine, including 'me-ans for twisting a plurality of pairs of wire strands together between adjacent pickets to form the lateral cables of a fence, means for looping the ends of the pickets to form a finished edge to the wire fabric, said looping means including a platform adapted to support the end of the picket, a vertically movable platen provided with a plurality of downwardly directed pins of relatively different length to successively engage and bear against the PlCSGt, whereby to bend the end of the picket on the arc of a circle, means for actuating the platen, means whereby the picket is released from said looping means, and means for returning the looping means to its initial position whereby it may receive and act upon the next inserted picket.

13. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of simultaneously operated twisting devices adapted to twist strands of wire together between the picket-s of the fence fabric, a. plurality of feed-drums adapted to engage the several pickets of the fence fabric as it leaves the twisting devices, a train of gears for operating said feed-drums including a worm gear mounted on the shaft of one of the feed-drums, a worm driving gear in mesh with said worm gear, a bundling drum, means for driving said bundling drum at a relatively decreasing speed as the diameter of the fabric wound thereon increases, said means comprising a frictional disc actuated by a frictional driving disc on one of the feed-drums, a partially screw threaded shaft suitably journaled on which the. frictional driven disc is mounted, a gear on said last named shaft in mesh with a gear on the shaft of the bundling drum, a traveling yoke tapped to receive the threadreturned to its initial position upon removing the roll of fence fabric from the bundling drum.

14:. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands together to form the lateral cables of a fence, means for feeding wire pickets between the strands of the lateral cables, means for looping the ends of the pickets including spaced perforated platforms, on which the ends of the pickets may be bent on the arc of a. circle, a vertically movable platen above each platform, each provided with a plurality of downwardly directed pins of different length adapted to successively act upon the ends of the wire pickets to bend the ends of the wire pickets upon the arc of a circleon said platforms, means for actuating the platens to cause the pins thereof. to engage the ends of the pickets, and means for withdrawing the platens from cooperative relation with the platforms.

15. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of simultaneously operated. twisting devices adapted to twist strands of wire together between the pickets of the fence fabric as it leaves the twisting devices, a train of gears for operating said feed drums including a worm gear mounted on the shaft of one of the feed drums, a worm driving gear in mesh with said worm gear, a bundling drum, means for driving said bundling drum at a relatively decreasing speed as the diameter of the fabric wound thereon increases, said means comprising a frictional disk actuated by a frictional driving disk on one of the said feed drums, a partially screw threaded shaft journalled in the machine on which the frictional driven disk is mounted, an operative connection between said shaft and the bundling drum shaft, a travelling device tapped to receive the threaded shaft and adapted to engage the hub of the frictional driven disk, whereby the frictional driven disk may be shifted toward the periphery of the frictional driving disk as the diameter of the fence fabric increases upon the bundling drum.

16. In a wire fence machine, a frame, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands together to form the lateral cables of a fence, each including a transverse hole and slot at one end for the passage of the pickets of the fence, means for rotating the twisting members, a rock shaft mounted in the frame above said roguide the picket and afterwards opened to release the picket simultaneously with the operation of the rock shaft and a consequent swinging of said arms, and means for actuating the rock shaft.

17. In a wire fence machine a frame, a

plurality of twistingmembers adapted to twist wire strands together to form the lateral cables of a fence, each including a transverse hole and slot at one end for the passage of the pickets of the fence, means for rotating the twisting members, a rock shaft mounted in the frame above said rotating means, a plurality of arms depending from and keyed to said rock shaft, a swinging jaw pivoted to the free end of each of the rocking arms, a shaft journaled in the frame adjacent the rock shaft, a link pivoted to each of the swinging jaws and to the second mentioned shaft whereby the swinging jaws may be automatically closed to guide the picket and afterwards opened to release the picket simultaneously with the operation of the rock shaft and a consequent swinging of said arms, means for actuating the rock shaft, and means for looping the ends of the pickets and connecting them with the wire fabric to provide finished edges for the fabric.

18. In a wire fence machine, a frame, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands together to form the lateral cables of a fence, each including a transverse hole and slot at one end for the passage of the pickets of the fence, means for rotating the twisting members, a rock shaft mounted in the frame above said rotating'means, a plurality of arms depending from and keyed to said rock shaft, a swinging jaw pivoted to the free end of each of the rocking arms, a shaft journaled in the frame adjacent the rock shaft, a link pivoted to each of the swinging jaws and to the second mentioned shaft whereby the swinging jaws may be automatically closed to guide the picket and afterwards opened to release the picket simultaneously with the operation of the rock shaft and a consequent swinging of said arms, means for actuating the rock shaft, and automatically operable, coactive devices to bend the ends of the pickets at one side of the fence fabric to loop the pickets and thereby provide for a finished edge for the fence fabric.

19. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of wire spools, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands delivered in pairs from the spools to the twisting members, a trough mounted on the frame to guide a single picket transversely to the line of feed of the strands of wire, feed rolls through which each picket passes to position with relation to the lateral strands of wire and a device mounted on the trough for engagement with the outer ends of the respective picket to force the same between the feed rollers into cooperative relation with the twisted lateral strands.

20. In a wire fence machine, a plurality of wire spools, a plurality of twisting members adapted to twist wire strands delivered in pairs from the spools to the twisting members, a trough mounted on the frame to guide a single picket transversely to the line of feed of the strands of wire, feedrolls through which each picket passes to position with relation to the lateral strands of wire and a device mounted on the trough for engagement with the outer of the respective picket to force the same between the feed rollers into cooperative relation with the twisted lateral strands, means in cluding a plurality of feed drums to feed the finished fabric forwardly as the latter leaves the twisting means and means for bundling the wire fabric upon leaving the feed drums.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. BARNES.

Witnesses:

S. E. THOMAS, JOHN CoNsmINE. 

